England’s possible 2026 World Cup group: Best & worst draw scenarios

The Three Lions were the first European side to secure a place in the 2026 competition.

Since 1966, the topic of missing out on the World Cup triumph has been prevalent among England supporters. Since the 1990s, the optimistic song “Three Lions (It’s Coming Home)” by Baddiel and Skinner has been used as the soundtrack for numerous competitions.

With a group of elite players led by Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham motivated to create history, England have recently come closer than ever to winning a major tournament.

So, in their quest to put an end to six decades of suffering, who precisely could England face in the 2026 World Cup? We dissect the possible opponents in the group stage.

Who can England get in the 2026 World Cup group stage?

England won’t be drawn against any other Pot 1 teams because they are among the top seeds in Pot 1 for the World Cup 2026 group stage draw. The Three Lions cannot, therefore, be in a group with countries like Spain, Argentina, France, or Germany.

Pots 2, 3, and 4 will determine which teams the Three Lions will play in the tournament’s group stage. European (UEFA) teams are exempt from the common rule that two teams from the same federation cannot be drawn together. England might play another UEFA team because each group is required to include at least one, but no more than two, European representatives.

What could be a worse draw for England?

A couple of draws could be deemed extremely challenging for England. Both a group with Uruguay, Norway, and Ghana and a group with Colombia, Egypt, and one of the European play-off winners—teams like Italy, Turkey, and Denmark are in the running—would pose a significant challenge.

It would also be challenging to play in a group that included Paraguay, one of the European play-off winners, and Senegal, which recently gave England a hard time.

What could be the best draw for England?

A draw that could prove favourable for them, according to rankings and standings, would be an outcome like Iran (Pot 2), Panama (Pot 3), and New Zealand (Pot 4), completely avoiding another European team. However, a lot will rely on what unfolds on the day and whether teams have their best players.

As an alternative, favourable yet intriguing options are Australia (Pot 2), South Africa (Pot 3), and Haiti (Pot 4).

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